Happy Birthday... Continue Praying

Today is my best friend's birthday. Kattie is turning 26 today. On Thursday her family was in a horrible accident. Please read the post below for details of her accident or go to thealders.org for continuous updates on her condition.

Katie is my dearest friend. 10 years ago today we sat next to each other in Algebra II in Mr. Hill's class. The one thing we learned in Mr. Hill's class... "It's not for you to question why... just invert and multiply." The first day of school was Katie's birthday. She had just moved to Oregon from Southern Cal. She as new to the school and didn't know anyone. My bother was about to go on a mission and I was about to be a lone child left at home. Her family welcomed me into their home. I became great friends with Katie's brother Jared and sister Becki, but I felt like Katie and I were like Diana Berry and Anne Shirley from Ann of Green Gables: WE were /are kindred spirits.

She has been an example and a light to me for the last 10 years. She is always so happy and so optimistic. She is so kind to everyone around her. She has the voice of an angel. She has so many amazing qualities.

We have been together to help each other though many experiences. We have had crushes and dated boys and then had our hearts broken. We grated from high school, got accepted to BYU on the same day, went to college and had many adventures together. I saw her prepare for a mission and serve in Korea. We graduated from college. She gave her support and consent as I got married. I watched as she met and dated Ryan and then her wedding day she was such a beautiful bride and her and Ryan were such a handsome couple. I saw her light get brighter through her pregnancy as her and Ryan were going to prepare to become parents. I still haven't met Cora, but after talking to her and her family, I know that Ryan and Katie are the perfect parents for that little girl.

Right now my heart is broken. I feel I have been with Katie through so many experiences, but I don't know how to be there for her now. I told Allen this weekend that I feel cut off being out here in Utah. I wish there was something I could do that would make everything better.

Sometimes in my weak moments, I feel like this is such an injustice. How could something like this happen to someone so wonderful? I find myself going in and out of reality. I find myself celebrating that BYU won or laughing about something and then all of a sudden I am brought back to what is going on with my friend and I think, "how can I celebrate when my best friend is lying in a hospital bed?" It doesn't seem fair that Allen has held me this weekend as I have cried and Katie is alone.

Allen keeps telling me that I can't compare, but experiences like these put life into perspective. How grateful I am for the little things. I have learned life is fragile and I want to be grateful for the small moments. I don't ever want to take my family or my friends for granted.
This weekend I was reading a talk by Elder Bateman that made me think of Katie. he told a story about a young girl form Korea that was in an accident that paralyzed her. After recovering she lived with her parents. She found herself wondering about the meaning of life. Shortly after, tow American woman missionaries came to her door. She listened, read the Book of Mormon, prayed and was baptized. Elder Bateman said that she was sharing her testimony in a stake conference and this is what she shared, "I know that Heavenly Father does not look on the outward appearance, but on the heart. I also know that the true miracle is the healing within, the change of heart, the loss of pride. Although my physical body may not be healed in mortality, my spirit has felt the healing power of the Holy Ghost. And in the Resurrection, a fully restored, perfect physical body will again house my spirit and I will receive a fullness of joy." He then said, "As I listened, the spiritbore witness of the great miracles of the Atonement and the Savior's power to mend broken hearts, to heal from within."

I thought about Katie because she served her mission in Korea. She was one of those missionaries that have changed so many lives because of her willingness to serve and share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that she is going to make a full recovery physically, but she is going to have so many emotional wounds. But I know that she has received a witness of the great miracles of the Atonement and the Savior's power to mend broken hearts. I know that through the Atonement, she can be healed from within as we all can. I know that Jesus Christ lives! I know that he was resurrected. I know that Ryan and Katie were sealed in the temple and that they will be together again.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their support. I know that is because of your prayers that Katie's recovery has been so miraculous. I love Katie so much and his has been a hard weekend so I wanted to thank everyone who has said so many kind words to me and has shown that they cared. Thank you to the seventh graders that gave me a hug when I was crying in their class. Thank you to the visiting teacher that went beyond her calling. But mostly, I want to thank you for the kind words spoken to and about Ryan and Katie. And thank you for the prayers offered on their behalf. Katie has such a long road ahead of her. Please continue to pray for her and her family and for Ryan's Family.
Happy Birthday Katie... We love you.